The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-14
MIR, SHERMAN I'm OHIO.

The question whether Senator Sherman
shall be Endorsed for the presidency by the
Republican convention OF Ohio has become
an interesting one in that State His friends
who are numerous and active favor such in
dorsement. 1t is opposed first, by the friends
of other presidential aspirants and
second, by those who think or pre-
tend to think it would be bad
politics to introduce the presidential question
at the gubernatorial election of Ohio this year.
The State convention meets in about month,
and the controversy over the Endorsement of
Sherman is growing warmer every day. In
this situation Mr.. Sherman's own views are
of interest. Col. A. G. Thompson, of Ohio, who
has just visited the Senator at Mansfield, is
understood to reflect his views and wishes.
To question whether he thought Mr.. Sher-
man ought to be Endorsed by the State con-
vention he replied:
"Yes, / do think Mr.. Sherman is the choice
of the Republicans of Ohio for President and
they should say SO to the people of the other
States at the Toledo convention, because that
will be the only opportunity they will have to
do so in difinte and authoritative way be-
fore the mastering for the national couven-
ton of 1888 begins In the other States the
question is constantly asked in reference to
Mr.. Sherman's candidacy, What will the
convention do7' and in view of the action of
Ohio in the national conventions of 1880 and
1884, the question is legitimate and peril
nent one, and the friends of Mr.. Sherman
ought not to ask Republicans of other States
to commit themselves to his support until that
question is answered in some satisfactory way.
If he had never been a candidate before, the
question would not arise, and it could be fairly
assumed that Ohio was for him, but now it is
question that must be met fairly and
squarely at Toledo It SCENE to me
that the manly thing to do is to express our
views freely and frankly through the chosen
representatives Of the party in convention as
sembled. 1t is good politics for the State to
stand by its own candidate. 1t prevents dis
sension and factions and brings all the ele-
ments of the party into harmony, and
strengthens us for the contest this year and
the next. It commits the Senator and his
friends in an especial manner to large share
in the responsibility of this years campaign,
and insures harmonious effort against the
common enemy"
This is frank and consistent and sounds like
Mr.. Sherman. His political methods are open
and direct and he is not in the habit of beat
ing about the bush. Being an avowed candi-
date for President he Of course desires the
timely Endorsement of his own State, and it
does not seem unreasonable on his part to ask
for such an Endorsement at the coming con-
vention. A refusal to give it would leave the
matter in so much doubt as to be almost fatal
to his candidacy, for as politics are now under
derstood a candidate has very little show of
success unless he can 60 into convention with
the Endorsement and solid delegation of his
own State OF course it is not necessary nor de-
sirable that the Republicans should select their
candidate for President this year, but it is